Technology has definitely improved a nonprofit’s ability to fundraise. With new innovations and technology advances, NFPs have more options when it comes to fundraising alternatives.

Nonprofits can now use donation pages, silent auctions and text campaigns alongside their more traditional offline options. Thanks to such alternatives, fundraising campaigns can be more creative than ever.

One of the great things about these advances is that your donor base is extended past just those on your mailing list. Thanks to social media and social networking, your spread is larger and wider with the ability to take local causes to a more national level.

Oxfam Australia has recently showed just how far technology can take us. They created an 8 minute virtual reality film which showcases the story of an 11-year-old girl. The film tells the story of Evelyn, a young girl from Northern Kenya, heading out in search of water and ends with her community celebrating the arrival of a solar-powered water system.”

Rather than look to the standard film technology, Oxfam decided to try a more unusual approach. They felt that the film was an important investment to gain more donors in the future.

Pam Anders, head of public engagement said, “The concern we have is there is a bit of donor fatigue in the market and it is increasingly challenging to compete for the donor’s attention. So we are always on the search for new and immersive ways to offer supporters an opportunity to really deeply connect with our work.”

While it was an added expense for the company, they weighed up the increased cost to produce such a film. The total cost came within Oxfam’s quota of spending 20% of income on fundraising.

Anders said, “Fundraising is the key to our long-term sustainability. Fundraising expenditure is not expenditure, it is an investment in sustaining the work that we do.”

Anders said, “The film helps to amplify their story and make sure they are not forgotten, it shows both the need and the solutions.”

Keeping an open mind to creating your next fundraising campaign is definitely recommended.